Born in Tokyo in 1980, Eiko Koike moved from teen idol modelling to a well-regarded on-screen career. She showed unexpected teeth in Yukihiko Tsutsumi's two-hander 2LDK (2003), a locked-room duel between roommates. She headlined the action sequel Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005) and has been a regular of Japanese prime-time thrillers ever since, including the long-running Yakou Kanshiki series. She also anchors variety and cooking shows, with a persona that reads more grounded than glamorous. Reliable and versatile, she has become one of the steadier working leads on Japanese television. Read more